In short: Ask what the rate includes, whether the room size is the cove or the whole room, what lighting and grip are supplied, how you get equipment in, how many parking spaces there are, whether crew is included and what the cancellation and change terms are. Get each answer in writing with the quote, and check that the studio's opening hours fit your shoot day.
A studio quote can look complete and still leave out the things that cost you a day. These questions cover the points most often missed, and the answers you need to get in writing before you book.
Before you ask anything
Know your shoot in one paragraph: the number of people on set, the set and any builds, the shots you need, the time you need and the equipment you are bringing. Send that with the questions, so the studio answers for your shoot rather than for a generic one.
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The room
- Is the room size the cove or the whole room? Ask for the width, depth and height of the space you will use, and ask which measurement is quoted. Measure your set against it.
- What is the grid height? The height to the lighting grid decides how high you can light and how much room a tall set needs. The White Space has 4.5 metres to the grid.
- Are there windows or daylight? The building has no windows, skylights or roof lights, so the light is the rig, not the weather.
Light, grip and kit
- What lighting is included? House lighting on the 8-bar grid is included with every space hire, along with C-stands, flags, bounce, apple boxes and a 1 metre turntable.
- What do I need to bring? Ask about lenses, stands, cables and any specialist lights, and whether the studio has them.
- Do any special effects cost extra? A rain rig is a bespoke build, quoted per production.
Access and time
- How do I get equipment in? Ask about the load-in route, whether it is at ground level, and how far the kit has to carry.
- How many parking spaces are there? The site has fifteen parking spaces and an EV charger.
- Does my shoot day fit the opening hours? The studio is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 20:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00.
Crew and people
- Is crew included? Crew is not included in the space hire. It is booked on top at the day rates.
- Who runs the lights and the sound? Ask whether a gaffer or a sound recordist is included, or whether you need to book them.
- Where do people wait? Ask about the dressing room and the client viewing area, and how many people they hold comfortably.
Safety and paperwork
- What is the safety induction? Ask what the studio briefs everyone on when they arrive.
- Who assesses the job? General guidance is never a substitute for a competent person assessing the actual shoot. Ask who does that assessment, and what you must provide.
- What insurance does the studio hold, and what must I hold? Ask for the answer in writing, and check it with your broker before the shoot.
Money and changes
- What is in the quote, and what is extra? Ask for a dated written quote with each line, including VAT.
- What are the cancellation and change terms? Ask for them in writing, and do not assume they match the last studio you used.
Granary's published figures for the points above are on the studio hire rate card. Ask any studio for the rest in writing. For a first booking, first time hiring a studio walks through the rest, and how to brief a studio or a crew explains what to send with the enquiry.
Sources
- Granary Digital, Studio hire rate card, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
The picture at the top of this page is an illustration, not a photograph of a client or a real job.
Questions we get asked
What should I ask before I hire a film studio?
Ask what the rate includes, the real room size, the lighting and grip, load-in and parking, whether crew is included, the safety induction and the cancellation terms. Get the answers in writing with a dated quote.
Is crew included in studio hire?
Not at Granary. The space hire includes the room, the house lighting and grip, and the facilities, and the crew is booked on top at the day rates.
Why do room sizes differ between studios?
Some studios quote the cove or the stage footprint and others quote the whole room, and the two can differ by a lot. Ask which figure you are being given, and measure against your set.
granary.digital · 01243 884993 · studio@granary.digital · The Old Grainstore, Adsdean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DN · Prices exclude VAT unless marked inc VAT